Sunday, March 29, 2009

Continuing the quest to circumnavigate the 11 Finger Lakes, Jamie Gartenberg and I rode over 200 miles and tallied 15,000 feet to our year-to-date climbing totals. We were joined during 111 miles by the strong Bill Fischer, who provided us with great anecdotal references and good humor. By the end of the ride I was contemplating a new saddle and a different pair of cycling shoes, but happy for the achievement and looking forward to even longer rides in the future.

This was by far the earliest start for any ride I have done: 4am. That is the time I figured we would need to start at to return to Ithaca in time to participate in the Earth Hour celebrations held in Cass Park at 8:30pm. On Friday the plan was to go to bed early. As usual, that did not happen and it was almost midnight when I finally closed my eyes shut. At 3am I was awake. After the pre-ride routine: breakfast, shower, toilet, dress and mount; I met Jamie at the RiteAid parking lot at about 4:05am. Not long thereafter we started our journey.

The night was pleasant with little wind and temperatures slightly above 40F. A descent into Ithaca was enough to remind us of the importance of wind chill, but we were still comfortable. The route I had borrowed from Ben Kraft to take us to Watkins Glen started with a long steady climb on Elm St, followed by a right-left sequence and three left-right events that led us to CR6.

The first incident during our ride occurred when a man driving a pickup in the opposite direction stopped to ask an intelligible question. He was visibly drunk and disturbed. He probably had us mistaken for another car, since at the time we were riding side by side and both were equipped with Supernova E3 dynamo powered headlights. After noticing his gaffe, he asked for forgiveness and drove on. No, we won't tell anyone.

We had not been on Elm St for very long when Jamie had his first lighting incident. The Minoura Space Grip to which his light was secured to had come loose. Suddenly the light was illuminating everything but the road ahead of him. Since we did not have the proper tools nor the patience to tighten the parts, the decision was made to secure the light to his aerobars instead (now the light turned sideways with respect to its normal position). It was soon apparent that he had an asymmetrical beam, since the pattern on the ground illuminated one side of the road more than the other. A second lighting incident occurred when his light became loose on the aerobars. This was resolved with a thicker shim.

CR6 is used by many FLLC-ers for time trials. Our pace was not even close to the all-out effort required for a time trial, but we were able to enjoy, even in complete darkness, the smooth pavement and gentle rollers along this 8 mile stretch. However, it was much colder than expected. I was cursing myself for not having brought my winter gloves, as my hands were becoming stiff and numb. Jamie's situation was even worse, as he is more prone to freezing fingers. Over the hilltops we could see the morning twilight, sign that the sun was on its way. However, this would take a while, and we had to endure a freezing descent on Cotton Hanlon Rd into Montour Falls. By the time we had finished descending my hands were so cold I rode the next 3 miles to Watkins Glen no-hands, which were tucked underneath my arm pit as I tried to revive them.

We arrived in Watkins at 7am, a full hour behind schedule. Bill Fischer arranged to meet us along the climb out of CR23. Jamie and I missed a turn in Watkins and spent an extra 15 minutes or so backtracking to the original route. We could have easily taken another route that would have saved this time, but I insist on following the cue-sheet if I can. This is because during a brevet it is standard procedure. Taking a detour will cost at the least a severe time penalty. If there is a secret controle along the route you may complete a 1200km randonee only to find out you were disqualified. This was not the case yesterday, but I would rather not develop bad habits.

The climb on CR23 out of Watkins was spectacular. The sun was now well above the horizon and every time I looked in my rear-view helmet mirror I was reminded of its presence. The fields were immersed in a bath of golden light while our backs felt the warmth of the sun. The climb increased the blood flow and soon our hands and feet felt good again. We were even able to enjoy the long descent to SR226, where for the second time we made a mistake. When generating cue-sheets, DeLorme knows of no such thing as a quick left. Therefore one must be very careful and generally read at least two cues at a time, or else you end up riding an extra 4 miles as we did. I made the right turn onto SR 226 without noticing that I should remain on it for only 0.02 miles, after which I should have turned left onto CR23. Two miles down the road I read my cue-sheet and realized my mistake. At least we had not climbed much.

We finally met up with Bill Fischer 45 miles into the ride. He had spent a good part of an hour having coffee with locals at a roadside restaurant. I called to inform him of our detour, after which he decided to move slowly on. So good was the chat with Bill that we missed a turn. This was the third mistake already. This time I felt there would be more resistance in returning to the original route since both paths would take us exactly to the same destination, so I let it rest. After nearly 50 miles both Jamie and I were ready for a bathroom and a quick rest, both of which we found in the Deli & Bakery in Hammondsport, on the southern end of Keuka Lake. I also had a vanilla iced coffee, while Jamie chugged some chocolate milk and Bill drank Vitamin Water. Many might not know, but 50 Cent retains 10% of the Glaceau business, creator of Vitamin Water.

"Five Lakes and a Steak", a popular century in the Finger Lakes region, has a hilly option that follows CR76 out of Hammondsport, rewarding the cyclist with an impressive view of Keuka Lake. On two occasions I have ridden the route, and on both I noticed that there was even a steeper option offered by taking GH Taylor Memorial Dr. So this time I incorporated it into the route. Midway along the climb I was about to regret it when I had an epiphany. I "discovered" an out-of-the-saddle position that was very comfortable. I had the vice of leaning too much forward when out of the saddle. This time I purposely made the effort to keep my arms rather extended, holding onto just the tip of my STI hoods. It felt so good I did not want the climb to stop! I would further use this method throughout the ride. I am not sure if it is faster, but it sure is more comfortable. I also spend next to no energy keeping my torso upright. In my other position I would often find myself alternately pulling on the handlebars, leading to fatigue in my arms.

GH Taylor Memorial Dr is home of Bully Hill Vineyards, started by the Taylor family in 1958. Had it not been so early, we might have stopped for a glass of wine. The view from the top of the hill was incredible. I savored the moment with pictures and even took a little video of Jamie and Bill climbing to the top. This extra bit of climbing is worth every foot in elevation gain.

Our ride continued along the "5 Lakes and a Steak" hilly option as we returned to CR76. I was feeling much better than I did a month or so prior on the occasion I had done a 150 mile ride with Bill and Ben Kraft that included the same route along Keuka Lake. I remember it was on the day of the first stage of the Amgen Tour of California. As I passed Armstrong Rd I could not help but take a picture. On the caption I made the remark "No sign of Lance". Well, there is still no sign of Lance and I will continue to take that picture every time I go by that road, until he decides to finally show up.

Once we reached Italy Hill Rd (CR32) I started to get bothered by a condition known as Morton's neuroma. It consists of a an enlarged nerve in between the third and fourth intermetatarsal spaces, that gets pinched by bones, resulting in a burning and tingling sensation that can be very painful. Often I will ride many miles with it, but this time I had to stop and relieve the pain by pulling on my two outer toes until I feel a snap, followed by a lot of pain and ensuing relief. The pain subsides, but eventually can return. I am seriously considering drilling holes in my shoes to move the cleats to the arch area of my feet. I am certain this will relieve some of the pressure on the ball of my foot. This procedure is even recommended by Joe Friel. I acquired this condition after playing a full season of indoor soccer with shoes that were way too tight. Before reaching Naples I would stop again because of my neuroma and also forget a pair of gloves alongside the road in the process.

We reached Naples around 11am, after a series of descents. I even spotted a wind farm along the way. The rotors were still, indicating good cycling conditions and not so great ones for energy generation. At the Arrow Mart in Naples I followed my rando-buddy Rick Carpenter's suggestion for the consumption of beef jerky. As I read the nutritional facts I was convinced of its value. High in sodium and protein, low in fat. And it comes in several flavors! Next week I will certainly be seen eating beef jerky at the controles of the PA 200K. Bill and Jamie loaded up with bagels, a plentiful source of carbs.

As if we had not already climbed enough, we were ready for more. Ahead of us lied 30 miles before reaching Canandaigua, including two large climbs. On the top of first climb we stopped at a scenic overlook for pictures. I even made an attempt at a mid-ride nap, but I was soon interrupted by Bill who would have none of that nonsense. During this stop we contemplated a road on the other side of the valley that looked wicked. Further research indicates this is S Hill Rd, within the High Tor Wildlife Management Area. We left the scenic overlook and it was not long before we experienced yet another cue-sheet mishap near Bristol Springs. Apparently "go straight" has the same meaning as "turn right" for DeLorme. Fortunately the flaw was made obvious by the lack of an expected intersection. It would be another story if we had 10 miles until the next intersection. I now see the usefulness of having a compass on the bike. Yes, a GPS is much more useful, but it also needs batteries.

Jamie told me of the dreaded Bopple Hill Rd and was wondering if we would climb it. My expectations were confirmed as we began to descend. At first I thought: "Even East Miller is worse than this!" That was before the road turned and got even steeper towards the bottom. It is certainly on par with East Miller Rd, but not as tough as Blakeslee Rd, another Ithaca favorite. Riding alongside Canandaigua Lake was the highlight of the ride. The sights were so nice I did not even notice a couple of lumps on our way to Canandaigua. We crossed paths with several cyclists and pedestrians enjoying the excellent weather. I was impressed by the amount of luxurious homes on the lakefront. It also made me wonder how the everyday person can access the lake if all the property is privately owned. The waters seemed clean and crisp. I will make sure I include swim stops along future rides during summer.

We arrived in Canandaigua between 1pm and 1:30pm if I recall correctly. This was our "long stop", about halfway in the ride. Each of us ate a sub and I had even more beef jerky. In retrospect, I should have taken more for consumption on the bike. Bill and Jamie had some laughs about my explanation about the art of timing your trip to the bathroom. I did not know talking about one's physiology was so funny. I was starting to get worried about the time, wondering if we would make it back to Ithaca in time for the Earth Hour celebration.

On the way to Canandaigua I noticed that my chain had started to chirp a little, so before we left I meticulously oiled each roller, to Bill's astonishment. I find it a bit more time consuming, but just the right parts are lubricated, no more. Our ride along the western side of Canandaigua Lake was as enjoyable as the one on the eastern side. However, now the sky was mostly covered with clouds, but the temperature was above 60F. We bade farewell to Canandaigua Lake at the town of Vine Valley and continued our ride heading northeast to Geneva, on the northern end of Seneca Lake.

The segment of the ride from Vine Valley to Geneva was probably the most difficult. We were feeling the hours in the saddle, there was a constant headwind and I was not drafting. Although we did not encounter extended climbs, there were enough rollers to make it challenging. In addition, my neuroma kept bothering me and I had to stop for a minute or so as I tried to relieve the pain. This was after I attempted to relieve the problem while riding by loosening my cycling shoe and pulling my foot out without unclipping. I had my left foot on the handlebar and was pulling on my toes with my left hand while I pedaled one-legged with my right leg, but just for one revolution, as I heard my shoe (which was now upside down) rubbing on the asphalt. It almost worked! By the time I got back on the bike Bill and Jamie were out of sight. Now I had to catch up in this unforgiving wind. The road was straight enough that I was able to ride in the drops with my head down, following the shoulder of the road. Occasionally I would look down to scan the road for potholes. Eventually I reached Bill and Jamie. Bill apologized for letting me suffer in the wind but I still dropped them in return.

We reached Geneva a bit after 4pm. By the time I rolled in the Tim Horton's parking lot I was out of water, Spiz and Accelerade. The last 30 miles since our stop in Canandaigua had taken its toll. We all enjoyed one form of refreshment or the other. I also had a cranberry muffin made from whole wheat. It was delicious. After mixing up a batch of Spiz and Accelerade and replenishing my Camelbak we were back on the road for 55 more miles.

I celebrated my longest ride ever as the odometer reading exceeded 145 miles. We were on E Lake Rd, on the shore of Seneca Lake. As the hours grew longer the conversation subsided and was replaced by a pace line, as we took turns pulling. Next time I'll make sure to ride behind Bill instead of Jamie. First of all, Jamie is small and now he has the habit of riding in his aerobars, which reduces his frontal area significantly, to my disadvantage. However, there was a slight tailwind and it helped us maintain a nice steady pace without much effort. It was a little after 6pm when we reached Willard. Bill would take a separate path back to Watkins Glen while Jamie and I would cross to Cayuga Lake. We still had 30 miles and 2,000ft to cover in 2.3 hours if we were to make it in time for the Earth Hour festivities. It seemed possible, but we could not stop at O'Malleys for the coveted seafood chowder that Jamie had been speaking of for the entire ride. We did stop there, but just to flip the cue sheet and take a little break off the saddle. My butt was hurting a bit and I am now convinced I need a new saddle for these longer rides. My San Marco has some stupid embroidery that will remain imprinted on my rear for some time to come.

After we left O'Malleys we followed a more or less direct path on Powell Rd and Arden Rd towards Trumansburg. At this point I was checking my clock every now and then to check how much time we had. Once we were following a familiar route I switched the display to show the current time instead of the odometer reading. We were doing good until my foot neuroma reached is worse state. I tried to continue turing the cranks but the pain was too great. I had to stop just before we began to descend into Ithaca. I chose the professional building parking lot where Jamie also relieved his bladder. Curiously Jamie, who is an endodontist, mentioned he had some colleagues who worked there that referred patients to him. He did not want to be seen peeing in the parking lot. After each of us dealt with our bodies we began the descent on SR96, joining the folks at Cass Park for the Earth Hour with 10 minutes to spare.

Yes, we had made it! We were happy to meet other cyclists and share stories from our long day in the saddle. The Earth Hour celebrations consisted of riding along the Waterfront Trail in a loop of about two miles, after which we proceeded to the commons. Along the way we were greeted by customers of Felicia's Atomic Lounge, an establishment that was also obeying the no electricity policy. Upon arriving in the commons, we made a stop at the Collegetown Bagels, where I ordered "the largest hot chocolate you got" and an oatmeal raisin cookie, my favorite. These treats feel well deserved after so many miles. There was a lot of interest in randonneuring and I was happy to share the knowledge I have.

At 10pm Jamie and I parted towards the start of our ride. We still had a sizable hill to climb and I grinned as I proposed Jamie we climb it via Cascadilla Park Rd. He was reluctant at first, but then agreed it would be much more fun than climbing via East State Street and all its traffic. After the twisty climb we were happy with the choice. A bit more climbing and we were back to the start. My odometer read 199.5 miles after we looped around the RiteAid for some extra mileage. Since on more than one occasion my cyclocomputer did not restart after we had stopped, it was official: this ride was over 200 miles. We took a couple of celebration pictures an parted ways.

Earlier I had spoken with my wife. She was at a friends place and they were waiting for me to watch a movie. There was also pizza. The caveat: I had to get there soon, riding downhill almost the same amount I had just climbed. So I did. The pizza was delicious and the talk after the ride as good. I did not take off any of my cycling clothes, but I was assured by my wife that I was not stinking. The movie started and I faded into a deep sleep. It was 2:30am when the movie finished. Everyone left in cars, and I mounted my bicycle for the last climb of the day, half asleep. It was almost 4am before I was finally in bed, showered and all. I recall dreaming about endless climbs and exhilarating descents, all familiar somehow.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

This past week I lost a companion of over 12 years, my cat Pingo. She was born a stray cat in Brazil and picked up by my mom from a pizzeria. At the time I was 18 and today I completed 31 years of age. Just a week ago when I returned from the Owasco Lake ride she seemed fine. That would quickly change. In a matter of three days she stopped eating altogether and became extremely lethargic. The diagnosis was pancreatic cancer and nothing could be done. So on Thursday afternoon she was put to sleep while I held her in my arms. Yesterday was a ride to remember: there was the great company of Jamie Gartenberg, Bill Fischer, and Andy Goodell, a 125 mile scenic route with many challenging climbs and lastly the many memories of wonderful moments spent with Pingo. A few pictures over years are posted below.

A young Pingo in Brazil

Pingo and me then

Pingo and me two weeks ago

As I ate breakfast hearing the weather forecast for day I could feel the chill already. The temperature in Ithaca for the start was 14F and would rise to the mid-40's. That was colder than I would have wanted. This meant I would have to adapt to the warmer temperatures as the day progressed.

I was about 5 minutes late but since I mapped the route and made the cue sheet I imagined the others would wait for me. And they did. Jamie, Bill and Andy were ready to ride as I strolled in the RiteAid parking lot. After a couple of pictures we were off to a pleasant start. The initial miles, in contrast to the Owasco Lake Ride, were relatively innocuous. We moved swiftly in a pace line on Lower Creek Rd, Upper Creek Rd and then McLean Rd to Cortland, our first stop 21 miles in. Thanks to Jamie we were able to find Tim Horton's, which is located inside Tops. How would I know that? Well, Jamie did. This was more of a get-warm stop than a need-to-eat one. Bill actually had inquired about 5 miles before if we wanted to stop to get warm. If Bill manifests discomfort, it must be pretty bad. At Tim Horton's I had an oatmeal raisin cookie, my absolute favorite. Oddly it looked like it had been bitten already, but I did not make a fuss about it. Bill and Jamie ate bagels with coffee and Muscle Milk, respectively. Andy had brought all his food with him, an assortment of granola, fruits, juice for the occasional sugar deficit and celery.

As we left Tops I noticed I once again had forgotten to remove my coffee shop shoe covers. The time I spent to stop, take them off and continue created a sizable gap. Before I have continued pedaling and taken them off while riding, but the traffic on SR 281 was not welcoming. I took my time and eventually caught up with the pace line, which at the moment was pulled along by Bill. The pavement on SR 281 is very bad at some points. Jamie nearly hit a huge crater in the rode that probably would have ruined his brand new Independent Fabrication, or at least damaged it significantly. Not to mention Jamie. We were constantly dodging these craters on the road and I was happy to see our next turn ahead, Cole Brook Rd.

Cole Brook Rd exceeded my expectations. I had read on the FLCC website about the beauty of the Otisco Lake Valley. I can imagine that it will become even more so when the foliage returns. The pavement was excellent, the air crisp and there was not a cloud in sight. As we began a gentle incline I was determined to maintain our speed, observing Jamie in my helmet mirror. I worked hard during that stretch and when I eased off the pedals we had only lost Bill. He soon rejoined us. I could not help but notice the several abandoned homes along the valley. I wonder why this is so. I do not know much about the economics of the region, but I can imagine that these are small farms that may have encountered tremendous difficulty competing with larger producers. I would be very interested in learning about what led people to literally abandon their homes and farms.

We had been steadily climbing for a few miles and now it was time to contemplate our prize. We made a right on Willowdale Rd and shortly thereafter I caught a glimpse of Otisco Lake, the easternmost of the Finger Lakes. Willowdale offered spectacular views of the lake as we headed north along its western side. I noticed that large sections of the lake were covered with a thin sheet of ice. For an instant I started to think about the time required to form a 1 mm thick sheet of ice over such a lake exposed to 20F. That thought subsided in face of such a beautiful sight. Once again I felt the urge to take a picture. That always means I have to catch up later, so I choose my spots strategically, such as the beginning of a descent, or the beginning of a climb, when I know that I can catch up. But you will not often see me taking a picture on flat terrain with blistering winds. But it does happen if the scene is just too precious to be left unregistered by the lens.

The next stop was in Marietta, on the northern tip of the lake. We chose the D&R Convenience Store. They had an ample supply of cycling food and drink. The sun was high in the sky and the temperatures were relatively balmy. I stowed away my Showers Pass jacket and my balaclava, switched to thin gloves and enjoyed roasting in the sun for several minutes. I also used the time to have a picture taken that I had thought of on another ride: the action of fueling the bike. Jamie was kind enough to do the favor, the result of which I am proud of. During this stop we also discussed the usefulness of generator hubs. Jamie was questioning his recent acquisition because of a post he had read somewhere about the added friction these hubs introduce. OK, if you are racing to a finish line I agree that those extra 10W or so might make the difference. But really, is that the case when you are on a randonee? I hardly think so. The notion that you are using your own power to move forward and also illuminate the path ahead is poetic at the least. Honestly, after purchasing my generator hub I am seriously thinking about substituting my rear blinky with a generator powered tail light. Batteries, I need you no longer! Maybe just in case the hub fails... :)

The returning leg along the eastern side of the lake, on Otisco Valley Rd, was arguably the most enjoyable part of the ride. There was however, a steady annoying headwind and also the fact the my cyclocomputer bonked on me. I tried to reanimate it without any success. Oh well, back to old style navigation, cue-sheet and no more. It's better not to dwell on these issues and just move on, doing the best with what you have. The function I find the most useful is the odometer reading. Without it you really have to stay alert. Since I was the route planner, I decided to move on ahead of the others, so I would have time to investigate all the intersecting roads without disrupting the pace. Everyone else had functional cyclocomputers, but I had caught a missed turn or two before and I did not want to go off track.

We stayed on Otisco Valley Rd for about 13 miles, until we reached Preble, the starting point of 9 rides of the Onondaga Cycling Club. On their website they offer well over 100 rides in the region. Plenty to choose from. We were heading south towards Cortland for our lunch stop. Instead of staying on US 11 the entire way, we branched off on Health Camp Rd. I did not see a health camp, but maybe the road is named that way because of the lump you have to go over while on it. It keeps you healthy if you ride it enough times. Health Camp Rd brought us to SR 13 and into Cortland, 75 miles into the ride, 50 to go.

Our second stop in Cortland was originally intended to be at the Subway on Main St. As we were riding along I noticed a deli to the right and thought how nice it would have been if I knew that deli existed when I mapped the route. But the cue-sheet said Subway, so we went to Subway. There was a big line, which was not moving. The woman in front of us said she had been there for over 30 minutes. That was unacceptable. Just the excuse I was looking for. "The Deli Downtown"offers a large variety of subs, wraps, paninis and much more. It was buzzing, the staff was cheerful and people in line were not complaining about the wait at all. A stark contrast to where we had just been. I had a "Tuscan Chicken" grilled panini and I enjoyed every gram of it. Bill and Jamie ate subs and Andy had more granola. I was proud of Jamie for having tomatoes, pickles and even cheese on his sub. This was an tremendous improvement over bread with chicken.

When I planned the route initially, I noticed that there were not that many hard climbs during the first 75 miles (a modest 4,200 ft over generally shallow climbs). It did not make a lot of sense to re-route what I had already done, so I decided to add some pain on the way back. The ability to control the level of pain of your fellow riders can be enticing and I just kept adding more of it.

We left Cortland on Page Green Rd, gaining 500 ft over 2 miles. That was the first spike. I could hear Bill's anger. Right after a lunch stop? Please! The next spike was worse, Van Donsel Rd followed by Bleck Rd, a gain of 450 ft over 1.2 miles. When we reached Harford I promised Bill that we had a nice descent ahead of us. I wasn't being dishonest, but I forgot that we needed to climb Seamons Rd and part of Harford Slaterville Rd for a gain of 500 ft over 3 miles. Not bad at all!

Finally we enjoyed the promised descent into Slaterville, where we stopped for the last time. Bill said he needed to get some work done in the afternoon, so he left straight to the finish with no regrets or shame. I designed the route specifically so that was a possibility. At the mini-mart I savored a reinvigorating ice cream sandwich. 100 miles in the ride and we still had almost 3,000 ft of climbing left over 25 miles. Not gradual long climbing, rather short and painful.

We started with Creamery Rd, a pebble in the path. That was followed by Bald Hill, climbing up Grove School Rd, a gain of about 450 ft over 1.7 miles. This was the appetizer. We enjoyed a nice descent, but a bit scary, on Bald Hill Rd. There was a large amount of gravel left from the winter, and with a ravine to the side, I decided to take it slowly. At the bottom we joined White Church Rd and followed the loop of many of the Tuesday races, down the valley and up the other side on Coddington Rd. This would bring us to the entree, East Miller Rd. This one hurt, 530 ft over 1 mile, a double digit grade almost all the way up. As I crested I turned around and took pictures of Andy and then Jamie reaching the top. Jamie mentioned that half way up East Miller he thought: "Screw it, I'm not going up Cascadilla". Cascadilla Park Rd was our last climb of the day. What? Leave without desert? The catch is that there was really no way out if you wanted to ride to the finish. It was just a matter of which climb inflicted the least pain. By the time Jamie reached the top of East Miller he was once again looking forward to the next climb. That's the spirit!

Before we were to meet Cascadilla, we had an awesome descent to look forward to on Stone Quarry Rd. During this descent I almost went airborne, having to stand to keep contact with the road and reaching 45.4 mph braking along the way. At the end of the descent there is a misplaced stop sign. Obviously whoever put it there did not take us descent-loving-cyclists into consideration.

At this point we were back in Ithaca and looking forward to the end of the ride. That meant climbing East Hill one way or the other. Every year a local hillclimb race is held on Cascadilla. It is a very entertaining, steep, twisty and short climb: 200ft over 0.4 miles. Jamie and Andy started the climb as I took a picture of them. I created a challenge for myself by waiting a bit and then trying to beat them up the hill with time to take a picture of them climbing up. They were not aware of this, so it wasn't really fair, but still fun! So I clipped in and zipped by them somewhere half way up the climb. I could hear Andy in the pursuit and I when I thought I had only a gentle incline left I was surprised by the steepness of the last section close to the cemetery. There wasn't much left in my legs, and I could have just laid down with the deceased, but I did hold on long enough for the pictures.

Is there something served after desert? Maybe schnapps? If there is, then it is Williams St: 100 ft over 0.1 miles. That was the icing on the cake. Of course there remained a shallow climb to the start, but all pales to that last sting I can still feel in my legs.

We were a happy bunch gathering where we had left early in the morning. Celebration pictures were taken and all enjoyed a good night of well deserved sleep. I certainly will remember this ride for long to come, for the ride it was and because it was the first after the loss of my beloved cat Pingo during the week.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

An interesting episode occurred as part of the PA Spring Forward 200K brevet. After we finished the ride, we stowed our bikes in Jamie's car, one lying on top of the other, with several towels in between. This avoids any direct contact between the bikes. After a 3.5 hour drive Jamie drops me off and I take my bike out of his car along with all the rest of my stuff.

The next day I get a call from Jamie, who is convinced that his wheel is out of true because of the bouncing of the bikes in the car. I am not convinced because:

1) The bikes hardly bounced during our all-interstate drive home.2) Even if they did bounce, the loads were minimal.3) It is much more likely for the wheels to get out of true while riding, e.g., if you hit a pothole.

So Jamie takes his wheels to a bike shop only to get a call a few hours later. The mechanic was astonished by the large number of large cracks in his rim. Jamie was probably lucky not to have had a rim failure during the brevet. The lesson to be learned is: inspect your rims once in a while! Below are a couple of pictures of one the amazing cracks.